Monorail system

ABSTRACT

A monorail system is provided whereby the track is elevated, of multipiece construction with a single metal supporting rail on top of a central panel and with a lower metal rail having flanges on each side of the panel. The car used in the system rides on flanged wheels on top of the rail and has horizontal stabilizing wheels engaging each side of the central panel, and a collector resting on one flange of the metal contact rail at the bottom of the panel.

United States Patent [72] inventor Raymond J. Lawrence 831 W. Gillam Ave., Langhorne, Pa. 19047 [21] Appl. No. 840,757

[22] Filed July 10, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [54] MONORAE SYSTEM 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 104/118, 104/ 120 [51] Int. Cl B61b 13/04, B61 b 13/06, E016 25/08 [50] Field of Search 104/118, 120; 191/29; 105/143 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,320 12/1912 Koelle 105/145 494,081 3/1893 Pruyn 191/29 641,829 1/1900 Bruns 191/29 3,461,811 8/1969 Swinney 104/118 Primary ExaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen Att0rney-Zachary T. Wobsensmith, 2nd

ABSTRACT: A monorail system is provided whereby the track is elevated, of multipiece construction with a single metal supporting rail on top of a central panel and with a lower metal rail having flanges on each side of the panel. The car used in the system rides on flanged wheels on top of the rail and has horizontal stabilizing wheels engaging each side of the central panel, and a collector resting on one flange of the metal contact rail at the bottom of the panel.

PATENTEDBBI 519?: 3.610.162

SHEET 1 BF 2 MIL/07012, RAYMOND J. LAWRENCE MONORAIL SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a monorail system which is of the overhead or trolley track variety with a single rail having a vehicle suspended and carried thereon.

DESCRIPTIONOF THE PRIOR ART Much interest has been evidenced and a lot of money spent in attempting to design monorail systems. Monorail systems are much desired in that higher speeds can be attained in relative safety and expensive land condemnation and construction costs can be avoided.

Most of the present systems in use suspend the track or rail from overhead poles which causes the weight and therefore the capacity of the train to be at minimum in order to avoid destruction of the track which supports the train. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of previous monorail systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A monorail system of the overhead type with single rail structure is provided which comprises a metal top rail supported on a plastic or the like electrical insulating and supporting panel with a bottom rib having opposed flanges, the rail structure being supported at intervals by metal clamps engaging bars carried on vertical poles, the car used in the system having double flanged supporting wheels riding on the top rail with horizontal stabilizing wheels on each side of the central panel and a collector extending down from the car and engaging one of the flanges.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a monorail system whereby the cars ride on top of the track, have greater stability and obtain higher speeds than was previously possible.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a monorail system that has a greater degree of safety than was previously obtained.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a monorail system which is simple and inexpensive to construct but sturdy and reliable in operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a monorail system which is easy to assemble and requires a minimum of support elements.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent form the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view showing a portion of a preferred form of the track assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the car used with the monorail system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings and FIG. 1 thereof, the monorail system includes a track assembly 10 which for purposes of illustration is shown as composed of various straight and curved track sections 11 and 12. The track assembly 10 is supported at intervals by a series of vertical support assemblies 14 engaged therewith. A car 40 is illustrated on the track assembly 10 readyfor use.

Referring now to the remainder of the drawings, the track sections 11 and 12 each has a top metal rail 15, preferably of rectangular cross section with an upper contact portion 16, the rail 15 being connected by a vertical web 17 to a flat lower strip 18. The strip 18 is bonded or otherwise secured to the top face 19 of panel 20. The panel 20 is of rectangular configuration in cross section and can be formed of any desired material such as synthetic plastic or the like of low electrical conductivity. The panel 20 has a metal contact rail 21 on the bottom 22 thereof which rail 21 preferably has square flanges 23 on each side of panel 20, each of the flanges 23 being connected to a common flat bottom plate 24 by a vertical member 25. The plate 24 is bonded and secured to the bottom of panel 20 in any desired manner.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper contact portion 16 of top rail 15 is hollow and can have a pin 28 in alternate rails 15 which internally engages the rail 15 next following to provide structural rigidity and electrical continuity. Each of the bottom flanges 23 for each track section 1 l or 12 at one end also have pins 28 therein to provide for connecting track sections 11 and 12 together and to provide electrical continuity, insulated from the rail 15, by the panels 20.

The plate 24 has U-shaped spring clips 30 thereon at selected intervals and preferably at the end of a track section 11 or 12 or other locations as desired. The clips 30 are engaged with blocks 31 of vertical support assemblies 14 which includes poles 32 secured to blocks 31 and to base plates 33. The base plates 33 can be mounted above or below ground as desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 7, the impeller car 40 is therein more fully illustrated and includes an inverted box frame 50 with top wall 51, sidewalls 52, and end walls 53. The top wall 51 has a front and rear pair of car guiding wheels 55 rotatably mounted therebelow by shafts 56 secured to the top wall 51. The wheels 55 are in a horizontal plane and bear against either side of the panel 20 to restrain the car 40 from sidewise movement and stabilize it from vertical rotational movements.

The car 40 as seen at the left in FIG. 6 is provided with a pair of double flanged idler wheels 60 which ride on the top metal rail 15 and are carried on shafts 61 rotatably joumaled in tabs 62 on each side of wheels 60 which are struck out of top wall 51 to provide support and an opening (not shown) for the wheels 60.

At the right end of car 40, a double flanged idler wheel 65 is provided mounted on shaft 66 which is joumaled in tabs 67 which are struck down from top wall 51. Horizontally spaced from wheel 65, a double flanged driving wheel 69 is provided carried on a shaft 70 which shaft 70 is joumaled in tabs 67. The wheel 69 has a worm gear 71 adjacent thereto also carried on shaft 70 and connected to wheel 69 in driving relation. Above gear 71 a pinion gear 72 is engaged with gear 71. The pinion gear 72 is secured to shaft 73 of an electric motor 75. An additional worm gear 76 is provided above gear 72 engaged therewith to maintain gear 72 in contact with gear 71. The gear 76 is carried on shaft 77 which is joumaled in an L- shaped bracket 78 which is fastened to top wall 51.

The electric motor 75 is mounted on top wall 55 and is of conventional type with a ground through shaft 77, wheels 69, to metal rail 15 and with a collector 80 extending down the side of panel 20 to contact the rail 21 where it engages one of the flanges 23 and completes the positive side of the electrical supply for the car 40. A housing 81 is provided fastened to frame 51 in any desired manner to provide protection to the motor 75 and other components.

It will thus be seen that structure has been provided with which the objects of the invention are attained.

lCLAlM l. A monorail vehicular system having a track rail assembly supported from below with an upper conductive rail and a lower conductive rail separated by a nonconductive panel with which said rails are in continuous longitudinal engagement and having opposite vertical parallel faces,

the improvement therein which comprises a vehicle having a frame with an upper portion transversely disposed above and along said upper rail,

a plurality of horizontally spaced double flanged wheels in engagement with said upper rail and supporting said vehicle, and

a plurality of horizontally spaced horizontally disposed stabilizing wheels mounted on vertical shafts secured to said frame and continuously engaging said opposite vertical side faces of said panel in spaced relation above said lower rail.

2. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which a motor is provided carried by said frame, and

one of said double flanged wheels is a driving wheel, and

operating connections are provided between said motor and said one of said flanged wheels.

3. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 2 in which said operating connections include a gear connected to said one of said flanged wheels, and a pinion engaged with said gear and driven by said motor. 4. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 3 in which a holding member is provided engaged with said pinion and holding said pinion engaged with said gear. 5. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim I in which a motor is provided carried by said frame, and a collector member is provided extending from said motor and engaging said lower conductive rail for energization of said motor. 6. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which said plurality of double flanged wheels includes a forwardly disposed pair of wheels and a rearwardly disposed pair of wheels. 7. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 6 in which a motor is provided carried by said frame, and said motor is disposed between said forwardly disposed and said rearwardly disposed pairs of wheels. 8. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim I in which said frame has downwardly extending portions in which said double flanged wheels are rotatably supported. 

1. A monorail vehicular system having a track rail assembly supported from below with an upper conductive rail and a lower conductive rail separated by a nonconductive panel with which said rails are in continuous longitudinal engagement and having opposite vertical parallel faces, the improvement therein which comprises a vehicle having a frame with an upper portion transversely disposed above and along said upper rail, a plurality of horizontally spaced double flanged wheels in engagement with said upper rail and supporting said vehicle, and a plurality of horizontally spaced horizontally disposed stabilizing wheels mounted on vertical shafts secured to said frame and continuously engaging said opposite vertical side faces of said panel in spaced relation above said lower rail.
 2. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which a motor is provided carried by said frame, and one of said double flanged wheels is a driving wheel, and operating connections are provided between said motor and said one of said flanged wheels.
 3. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 2 in which said operating connections include a gear connected to said one of said flanged wheels, and a pinion engaged with said gear and driven by said motor.
 4. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 3 in which a holding member is provided engaged with said pinion and holding said pinion engaged with said gear.
 5. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which a motor is provided carried by said frame, and a collector member is provided extending from said motor and engaging said lower conductive rail for energization of said motor.
 6. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which said plurality of double flanged wheels includes a forwardly disposed pair of wheels and a rearwardly disposed pair of wheels.
 7. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 6 in which a motor is provided carried by said frame, and said motor is disposed between said forwardly disposed and said rearwardly disposed pairs of wheels.
 8. A monorail vehicular system as defined in claim 1 in which said frame has downwardly extending portions in which said double flanged wheels are rotatably supported. 